Pool lane line gate

ABSTRACT

A pool lane gate is provided. The pool lane gate includes a U-shaped frame and a gate door. The U-shaped frame includes a first vertical portion, a second vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions. The gate door includes a line and at least one floatation device disposed about the line. A first end of the line is secured to a top end of the first vertical portion and a second end of the line is releasably secured to a top end of the second vertical portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/214,925, filed Sep. 5, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pool lane lines and, more particularly, to a pool lane line gate.

Lane lines are currently used to create a plurality of swimming lanes within a pool. Typically lane lines are constructed of a wire and floatable discs disposed about the wire. Lane lines include a first end and a second end, each having hooks that are connectable to mounts at either end of the pool. Lane lines are typically used for swimming competitions or to provide a swimming lane for swimmers that recreationally swim laps in a pool. Currently, to move from one lane to another, a swimmer must either go under or over the lane line, which may be difficult for the elderly, the disabled, young children, novice swimmers and others that require flotation devices to swim.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that allows swimmers to move in between lanes without going over or under the lane lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a pool lane line gate comprises: a U-shaped frame comprising a first vertical portion, a second vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions; a gate door comprising a line and an at least one floatation device disposed about the line, wherein a first end of the line is releasably secured to a top end of the first vertical portion, and a second end of the line is releasably secured to a top end of the second vertical portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a pool lane line comprises: a U-shaped frame comprising a first vertical portion, a second vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions; a line comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to an outer portion of a top end of the second vertical portion; a plurality of floatation devices disposed about the line; and a connector secured to an outer portion of a top end of the first vertical portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, a pool lane line comprises: a first line comprising a first end comprising a first connector and a second end comprising a second connector; a plurality of flotation devices disposed about the first line; a gate door comprising a second line substantially smaller in length than the first line, wherein the second line comprises a first end comprising a third connector and a second end comprising a fourth connector, wherein an at least one floatation device is disposed about the second line, wherein the first connector and the fourth connector are releasably secured to one another, and the second connector and the third connector are each operable to connect to a pool hook mount.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with the gate open;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a pool lane gate 10. The pool lane gate 10 includes a U-shaped frame 16 and a gate door 18. The U-shaped frame 16 includes a first vertical portion 24, a second vertical portion 24 and a horizontal portion 25 joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions 24. The gate door 18 includes a line 30 and at least one floatation device 32 disposed about the line 30. A first end of the line 30 is secured to a top end of the first vertical portion 24 and a second end of the line 30 is releasably secured to a top end of the second vertical portion 24.

In certain embodiments, the pool lane gate 10 may be part of a lane line 14. In such embodiments, a connector 22 is secured to an outer portion of a top end of the first vertical portion 24 and the second vertical portion 24. The connector 22 of the first vertical portion 24 is releasably connectable with a pool hook mount 17. The connector 22 of the second vertical portion 24 is connected to the lane line 14. In such embodiments, a first end of gate door 18 is secured to an inner portion of the top end of the first vertical portion 24, and a second end of the gate door 18 is releasably secured to an inner portion of the top end of the second vertical portion 24.

The lane line 14 and the gate door 18 may be made of the same materials and may look substantially the same. For example, each of the lane line 14 and the gate door 18 may include a series of 4-inch or 6-inch polyethylene units or discs and donuts that float within in water assembled on a vinyl coated stainless steel cable. In certain embodiments, the floatation devices of the gate door 18 may be a different color to provide easy recognition of the location of the gate door 18 on the lane line 14.

The U-shape frame 16 may be formed of a rigid tubing and thereby maintains the integrity of the lane line 14 while opening and closing the gate door 18. In certain embodiments, the vertical portions 24 of the U-shaped frame 16 are extendable in length to adjust to different sized swimmers. In such embodiments, each vertical portion 24 may include telescoping tubes, including an inner tube slidably engaged with an outer tube. One of the inner tube and outer tube may include a plurality of apertures 23 and the other of the inner tube and outer tube may include a single aperture 23. Each of the plurality of apertures 23 align with the single aperture 23 at different lengths. A pin of a snap clip 28 may fit within the aligned apertures 23, securing the vertical portion 24 at a desired length.

The connectors 22 of the present invention may include hooks. For example the hooks may include carabineers which releasably attach to other carabineers and different types of hooks. In such embodiments, the gate door 18 may include a carbineer on each end. Therefore, a user may open the gate door 18 from either side.

The present invention may utilize caps 20. A first cap 20 may be secured to the top end of the first vertical potion 24 and a second cap 20 may be secured to the top end of the second vertical portion 24. The caps 20 may be releasably secured to the top ends of the vertical portion 24. In such embodiments, the caps 20 may include apertures 23 that align with apertures 23 formed at the top ends of the vertical portions 24. A pin of a snap clip 28 may fit within the aligned apertures 23, securing the cap 20 to the top end of the vertical portion 24. Each cap 20 may include a first hook 34 and a second hook 34 extending from opposing ends. The carabineers of the lane lines 14 and the gate door 18 releasably secure to the hooks 34.

The horizontal portion 25 of the present invention may be used as a step to help swimmers get through the U-shaped frame 16. In certain embodiments, the horizontal portion 25 may include an anti-skid surface 26 disposed about a top surface. The anti-skid surface 26 may be a high friction surface that provides additional grip to the swimmer. For example, the anti-skid surface may include a rubber pad with protrusions or a gritty material. The anti-skid surface 26 prevents the swimmer from slipping while crossing lanes.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention may be utilized without the U-shaped frame 16. In such embodiments, the present invention includes a lane line 14 and a gate door 18. The lane line 14 includes a first end having a first connector 22 and a second end having a second connector 22. A plurality of flotation devices 32 are disposed about the first line 30. The gate door 18 includes a second line 30 substantially smaller in length than the first line 30. The second line includes a first end having a third connector 22 and a second end having a fourth connector 22. At least one floatation device 32 is disposed about the second line 30. The first connector 22 and the fourth connector 22 are releasably secured to one another, and the second connector 22 and the third connector 22 are each operable to connect to a pool hook mount 17 of a pool 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the present invention may utilize the caps 20 connecting the gate door 18 to the pool line 14 and the pool hook mount 17. However, since the caps 20 do not cover anything in this embodiment, the caps 20 may be referred to as pegs. A first peg connects the fourth connector 22 and the first connector 22 together and a second peg connects the third connector 22 to a fifth connector 22. Each peg may include a first hook 34 and a second hook 34 extending from opposing ends. The carabineers of the lane lines 14 and the gate door 18 releasably secure to the hooks 34.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pool lane line gate comprising: a U-shaped frame comprising a first vertical portion, a second vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions; a gate door comprising a line and an at least one floatation device disposed about the line, wherein a first end of the line is secured to a top end of the first vertical portion, and a second end of the line is releasably secured to a top end of the second vertical portion.
 2. The pool lane line gate of claim 1, wherein the at least one floatation device is a plurality of floatation units.
 3. The pool lane line gate of claim 1, wherein the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion each comprise extendable lengths.
 4. The pool lane line gate of claim 3, wherein the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion each comprise telescoping parts.
 5. The pool lane line gate of claim 1, wherein the horizontal portion comprises an anti-skid surface.
 6. A pool lane line comprising: a U-shaped frame comprising a first vertical portion, a second vertical portion and a horizontal portion joining bottom ends of the first and second vertical portions; a line comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to an outer portion of a top end of the second vertical portion; a plurality of floatation devices disposed about the line; and a connector secured to an outer portion of a top end of the first vertical portion.
 7. The pool lane line of claim 6, further comprising a gate door comprising a line and an at least one floatation device disposed about the line, wherein a first end of the line is releasably secured to an inner portion of the top end of the first vertical portion, and a second end of the line is releasably secured to an inner portion of the top end of the second vertical portion.
 8. The pool lane line gate of claim 6, wherein the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion each comprise extendable lengths.
 9. The pool lane line gate of claim 8, wherein the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion each comprise telescoping parts.
 10. The pool lane line gate of claim 6, wherein the horizontal portion comprises an anti-skid surface.
 11. A pool lane line comprising: a first line comprising a first end comprising a first connector and a second end comprising a second connector; a plurality of flotation devices disposed about the first line; a gate door comprising a second line substantially smaller in length than the first line, wherein the second line comprises a first end comprising a third connector and a second end comprising a fourth connector, wherein an at least one floatation device is disposed about the second line, wherein the first connector and the fourth connector are releasably secured to one another, and the second connector and the third connector are each operable to connect to a pool mounting point.
 12. The pool lane line of claim 11, wherein the at least one floatation device of the gate door is a plurality of floatation units.
 13. The pool lane line of claim 11, wherein the first connector, the second connector, the third connector and the fourth connector are each a hook.
 14. The pool lane line of claim 11, further comprising a first peg connecting the fourth connector and the first connector together, and a second peg connecting the third connector to a fifth connector. 